About Bob Zyskowski

Bob is the Client Products Manager for the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. A 40-year veteran of the Catholic Press, he is the former Associate Publisher of The Catholic Spirit. You can follow him on twitter or email him at zyskowskir@archspm.org.

All well and good, in a palatable, non-threatening texture. We see how that’s worked out over the last century…

How about:

1. It is a precept of the Church binding under pain of serious sin, to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

2. We will die someday and face our particular judgement, and so need to be constantly nourished at the Altar of His Sacrifice for that day, after worthily receiving His forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

3. Since we’re fallen human beings, it’s our privilege to assist at this foretaste of the heavenly banquet here on earth despite our sinfulness and unworthiness.

Athanasiuscatholic

How about because we’re bound to by Church law and God’s will? And what in the world is that person wearing handing out Holy Communion? You couldn’t find a picture of a priest for Pete’s sake?

Bob Zyskowski

Why does it matter from whose hand the Eucharist comes to us? Isn’t it the Body of Christ that’s the focus?

Becky

Excellent response, Bob!

Becky

It’s more convincing that people want to be there when not every depiction of the Mass involves a priest.

http://mediumandlight.blogspot.com/ Helen Lee

The commenters below forget that things are not true because the Church says so, but that the Church says things because they are already true.

We SHOULD NOT be going to Mass because the Church says so. We SHOULD be going to Mass for the reasons above, which of course are why the Church tells us we have to go.

This is why Vatican II resulted in the loosening of certain Church mandates. People were going through the motions because the ‘Church said so’ and not to get closer to God.

Carolemccorry

I go to mass to celebrate and receive the eucharist as part of the body of Christ, to be spirtually nourished, sometimes I just go for the peacefulness of prayer.

I go because my heart calls me to be there

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